This Christ-centered blog is designed to serve stroke survivors, families and friends, through sharing experience and faith. My own stroke came on May 8, 1998. God provided medical professionals, friends, fellow believers, and strength to get me through some struggling recovery times.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Sad news: Tennessee expects more, younger stroke victims

A study - reported on by The Tennessean in Nashville - predicts an increasing number of strokes and younger victims.

From the article:

Tennessee is in a swath of states referred to as the stroke belt. Factors such as the state's high rate of obesity, diabetes and hypertension, along with the aging baby boomer population, are to blame for the increasing risk of stroke, health experts say. And now, the flagging economy may also play a role, doctors say.

..."As a therapist I have seen more people in the last five years 30 years old and older with stroke," said Trent Nessler, managing director of Saint Thomas Health Services Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. "Typically, it was 50 and above, and seeing a 40-year-old patient with a stroke was unusual. And now you're seeing individuals in their 30s on a regular basis."

As an under-40 stroke survivor, it is not something people expect. While mine was caused by a common heart defect, Tennessee researchers suggest that many of the 1,700 additional strokes predicted are potentially preventable - through better eating, exercise, taking care of high blood pressure and getting a handle on diabetes.

And Tennessee is not the only state or region following this pattern. We must stop this madness - people are eating themselves to death.

Note to readers

This blog stands for faith in God and better stroke awareness. Everyone should be aware of stroke signs and know what to do. The life you save may be your own. Toward that end, stroke survivors and families are invited to share comments or stories. This is not designed to give anyone medical advice - we might talk about stroke care in general but always, always seek appropriate medical advice.

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